Among the Literati

A few columns back there appeared a faintly impassioned plea for the Jews of America to ignore the publication of Herr Hitler’s autobiography, “My Struggle.” The contention was that if too much fuss was made over the publication of the book it would merely act as a stimulant to increase sales. The following appeared in Publisher’s Weekly, trade paper for publishers and booksellers. It is reprinted because it tends to bear out what has already been said, and it is something that can’t be said too often.

“Houghton Mifflin reports that there have been not only protests but threats against thepublication of Hitler’s autobiography, ‘My Battle.’ The feeling here against Hitler is intense, not because of his political program, many have disagreed with the political programs of Stalin and Mussolini, but because his political program involves aggressive discriminations against the Jews. Can that fact justify the censorship of ‘Mein Kampf’ in America? The book is not concealed propaganda, it is the signed and authentic views of the dominant figure in a revolution in a great state. Publication here does not force the reading of the book on those who may be bitterly sensitive to the hardships that the revolution has visited upon relatives and friends; the purchase of the book is not necessary for those who may feel that a wide sale would mean large income to the German chancellor but ‘My Battle’ is a historical document of current importance which should be made available to all who are seriously studying contemporary history. To embarrass the publisher in his function as distributor of such a book is no blow against anti-Semitism, it merely handicaps our own students of political affairs.”

“Mein Kampf,” the German title, has been translated into “My Battle,” instead of the more literate phrase, “My Struggle,” but it is the same book.